Effect of Abdominal Breathing on Postoperative Pain, State Anxiety, Blood Pressure, and Heart Rate of Patients Undergoing Cardiac Surgery

복식호흡이 심장 수술후 36시간 이내 환자의 통증, 상태불안, 혈압 및 심박동수에 미치는 효과

Purpose: This study is to evaluate the effect of abdominal breathing on postoperative pain, state anxiety, blood pressure, and heart rate of cardiac surgery patients treated in intensive care unit. Methods: A non-synchronized design of nonequivalent control group pre-post test was used. Participants were divided into an experimental group(n=22) and a control group(n=21). Just usual postoperative treatments were provided to the control group, while abdominal breathing interventions were provided to the experimental group, in addition to usual treatments. The intervention was consisted of 4 stages-introductions, breathing perception, breathing training, and closing-and it lasted twelve minutes in total. Pain, state anxiety, blood pressure and heart rate were the dependent variables of the abdominal breathing. Results: Those who carried out abdominal breathing showed a significant reduction in pain, as well as decrease of systolic blood pressure. However, it turned out to have no effect on state anxiety, diastolic blood pressure and heart rate. Conclusion: Abdominal breathing is simple and harmless and is effective for reducing postoperative pain.